When the temperatures rise, do what the locals do and head to a lake! There are so many great lakes in Berlin, but these are the best for swimming.
With around 3,000 lakes in Berlin and the surrounding state of Brandenburg, the trouble isn’t finding a place to swim — it’s figuring out which Berlin lake is the best!
Ask any Berliner where they like to cool off lakeside in the summer, and each person will have their own favorite place. Consider this guide merely a jumping off point for discovering your favorite swim spots!
A few general tips before we dive into Berlin’s best lakes: 1) most of the lakes are surrounded by lush forests, so don’t expect pristine white sand beaches when you get there; 2) signposted FKK (Freie Körper Kultur) or nudist areas are common, so just roll with it and know that swimming in the buff is very common in this part of Germany!
Whether you’re planning a trip to Berlin or you live here too, take advantage of the sunshine and get to a lake this summer!
Table of Contents
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Schlachtensee in Steglitz-Zehlendorf
Ideal for: First time lake-goers
Tucked away in a pretty bit of forest, Schlachtensee is the easiest lake to reach via public transportation. As such, the good swim spots along the banks of the lake fill up quickly so you’ll want to arrive no later than mid-morning.
Local security has been stricter in recent years about where you can lay out around Schlachtensee, so securing a shaded spot away from the main walking path is key to lake-day success!
Getting to this lake is as simple as taking the S1 to the Schlachtensee stop, walking off the subway platform, and voila! You’re there.
I suggest packing food and drinks for your day at Schlachtensee, but you can also purchase food at the “Fischerhütte am Schlachtensee.”
Getting there: S1 to “Schlachtensee”
Krumme Lanke in Steglitz-Zehlendorf
Ideal for: A cooling dip after a long jog or walk
Right next to Schlachtensee, you’ll find the equally picturesque Krumme Lanke. This is normally my “backup lake” if the good spots at Schlachtensee are all full.
With that being said, Krumme Lanke is a very popular swimming lake in Berlin and it can be very crowded on weekends.
Krumme Lanke is especially great for long walks since a well-maintained walking path surrounds the water. In the summer, you can cool off after your walk or jog by jumping in the lake. This is also a good spot to remember in the autumn and winter when you’re craving some outdoor time.
Getting there: U3 to “Krumme Lanke,” then walk 15 minutes
Tegeler See in Tegel
Ideal for: Summer picnics and weeknight swims
As the second largest lake in Berlin, Lake Tegel has lots of great swim spots.
The Strandbad is the best known — and therefore busiest — place to swim, but I’m partial to the Badestelle Reiswerder on the opposite side of the lake. It’s a calmer spot that attracts lots of families, but it’s just popular enough to induce an ice cream truck to show up periodically on hot summer days.
My top tip for finding good swim spots off the beaten path is to pull up Maps and look for “Badestellen.” Those are all swim spots! Tegel Lake has clear, deep water and is a favorite lake of mine for proper swimming.
For lakeside vibes minus the swimming, head to the Greenwich Promenade near Alt Tegel (Old Tegel). It’s a lovely place to walk around, eat, read, and there are also pedal boat rentals should you want to go out on the water.
Getting there: Bus 133 to “Weg nach Reiswerder” (for Badestelle Reiswerder – my favorite spot) or U6 to “Alt-Tegel,” then bus 222 to “Strandbad Tegeler See”
Grunewaldsee in Grunewald
Ideal for: Dog owners who need to cool off
The Grunewald Lake in the heart of the Grunewald forest has one of the few dog-friendly beaches in Berlin. I don’t have a dog, but I still love coming here to swim on muggy evenings (I just stay somewhat removed from the pups since they like to splash and play in the water).
The water near the dog beach is shallower, so this is a good place for gentle wading versus treading water or swimming.
The beach is close to the historic Grunewald hunting lodge, which has a small cafe inside that operates Tuesday through Sunday until 6pm. Packing your own picnic is still recommended, but if you run out of water or need a light snack the cafe is handy to have nearby.
Getting there: Bus X10 to “Brücke-Museum/Kunsthaus Dahlem,” then walk for 20 minutes to the “Hundestrand”
Großer Müggelsee in Treptow-Köpenick
Ideal for: Weekend swimming and boating
The Müggelsee is Berlin’s largest lake, so if you’ve been dying to get your pool floaties out of storage, this is the best lake to bring them to.
If water sports are your thing, look for kayak and stand up paddle board rentals around the Müggelsee. Boat rentals are also available, but you’ll want to book them far in advance when planning a lake day with friends.
The main beach is the Strandbad Müggelsee, and as you can imagine it’s very crowded on weekends. However, if you have a blow-up boat or pool floaties, I suggest sealing your personal items in a watertight bag before paddling farther out onto the water to escape the crowds.
Getting there: S3 to “Friedrichshagen,” then take tram 61 to “Strandbad Müggelsee”
Halensee in Charlottenburg
Ideal for: Quick dips after work
When the temperatures skyrocket and you need to cool off now, head to Halensee in the heart of Charlottenburg. There’s just one good place to enter the water, located within Friedenthalpark (it’s very easy to find, just look for the sunbathers!).
Halensee is a watery oasis within the city; you’ll hear cars driving past on the roads nearby, but the water is clean and cool.
If you own water shoes, I suggest bringing them with you to Halensee since reaching the deeper swim areas requires walking over large rocks. Bring a towel as well since there’s no beach here, just grassy parkland.
Getting there: S41 / S42 to “Halensee,” then walk 15 minutes
Großer Wannsee in Steglitz-Zehlendorf
Ideal for: Beach purists
No list of Berlin’s best lakes would be complete without mentioning Großer Wannsee!
If you just have to swim at a proper beach, Strandbad Wannsee’s kilometer of pristine white sand is calling your name. This is a super popular spot, and on weekends it’s not unusual to see a long line of beach-goers snaking out of the entrance.
I suggest booking your entry ticket in advance (costs 5.50 Euros) or arriving very early in the day to secure a spot along the beach.
At the Strandbad, you can rent beach baskets like you see along the coast of the Baltic Sea in northern Germany. The baskets aren’t just super cute to look at, they’re practical too! You can sit in them to get a bit of shade, and the baskets can be locked up to protect your stuff while you’re in the water.
With all that being said, if you don’t want to pay to enter the Strandbad, I actually love to swim at a hidden spot along the Uferpromenade near the ferry to the Pfaueninsel (Peacock Island); photos shown above. But there are lots of places to enter the water so ask around or look on Maps to see where people have marked swimming spots.
Getting there: S7 to “Nikolassee,” then walk 15 minutes
Bonus: Kayaking in “Little Venice” + Swimming in the Havel
I know this is a guide to the best lakes in Berlin, but I had to give a shoutout to one of Berlin’s hidden gems.
A lesser-known place in Spandau is “Little Venice” (Klein Venedig). Here you’ll find a series of interconnected canals that wind through private garden plots.
There are a few places you can rent kayaks and stand up paddle boards. Explore Little Venice, then head to the open water and paddle in the direction of Wannsee. The river banks are peppered with small beaches perfect for laying out all afternoon and swimming!
Enjoy Your Day at the Lake!
Now that you know the best lakes for swimming in Berlin, it’s time to pack up your picnic and head out the door! If you have any questions about Berlin’s lakes or if you have a favorite spot I didn’t mention in this guide, please leave me a comment below.
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